CNMI youths to attend Young People’s Congress in Hawaii

An international youth Congress focusing on global sustainability, human rights, and peace will bring together young people from all over the world in Honolulu, Hawaii on Thursday, Oct. 21.

Nearly 1,000 young people from more than 100 countries, including the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, are to attend a five-day conference to assess Agenda 21 issues and set new priorities and targets for the new millennium.

There will also be activities days before and after the conference,

The process of selecting representatives to attend the Congress included appointment of national coordinators from each country. National consultation meetings were then held to agree on priorities and to elect two representatives (under age 18) to carry these priorities to Hawaii.

The CNMI’s youth representatives include Karl King Nabors of Tinian High School; Ramona S. Concepcion of Marianas Baptist Academy; and Franklin S. Palacios of Marianas High School

Nearly 600 young activists and artists from around the world also plan to attend the Congress. The activists were selected based on their involvement in various environmental and social fields to complement the country delegations.

According to Governor Pedro P. Tenorio, “This gathering of youth from around the world is a premier opportunity for young people to identify environmental and social issues facing our world today and to seek appropriate solutions to address them as they see. What better way to empower them to take charge of their future than to allow them to dialogue amongst themselves and devise appropriate strategies for a future that is in their hands.”

“This Congress is an important opportunity to bridge the generations and to forge a new path into the next millennium,” said Hawaii Host Committee Honorary Chair U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. “I believe very strongly that as senior leaders, we must extend our hands, share what we know, and pass on the knowledge to our young people because they hold the future of our world in their hands.”

While in Hawaii, the young people will build and dedicate a Peace Garden, attend regional and global discussion sessions, dialogue with internationally-renowned adult mentors, and produce a book titled, “Rescue 2000,” which will summarize their priorities for the next millennium. Each will present the book to their head of state, community and business leaders upon return to their country.

“The Hawaii Host Committee has planned a variety of multi-cultural events that contain educational as well as entertaining features,” said Maeona Mendelson, Hawaii Host Committee director. “The State and people of Hawaii are looking forward to hosting these young people from different countries and cultures in October.”

Adult mentors from around the world attending the congress include Her Royal Highness, Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco; Italian architect, business executive and president of Rotary International Carlo Ravissa; World Travel and Tourism Council President Geoffrey Lipman; European Spiritual Leader Rabbi Soudendorp; and the United Nations Under Secretary Nitin Desai.

Peace Child International is a United Kingdom-registered, non-profit organization whose mission is to empower children to address global issues.

Supporters of the Millennium Young People’s Congress include UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, the World Travel and Tourism Council, and Green Globe, the world’s leading accreditation program for sustainable travel and tourism.